Groundbreaking Solution for Internal Bleeding in Surgery
Controlling hemorrhage during surgical procedures is a persistent challenge, especially when injuries involve solid organs like the liver or spleen. Conventional hemostatic agents struggle with adhesion, degrade slowly, or require additional interventions, which can increase complication risks and recovery times. A team of researchers at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has introduced a promising composite bioabsorbable hemostatic sponge designed to address these hurdles. By combining mussel adhesive protein with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), the sponge delivers rapid adhesion at the bleeding site, robust hemostasis, and safe biodegradation.
How the Composite Sponge Works
The innovation centers on two synergistic components. Mussel adhesive protein provides strong, rapid tissue adhesion even under wet conditions, a critical feature for bleeding surfaces. The second component, dECM, supports the body’s own healing processes and helps trigger intrinsic coagulation pathways. When applied to a bleeding site, the sponge absorbs blood quickly and adheres firmly to the tissue, acting as a stable scaffold that facilitates clot formation.
Once hemostasis is achieved, the material naturally degrades and is absorbed by the body. The exposed dECM then supports tissue recovery, potentially reducing inflammation and accelerating wound stabilization compared with traditional materials.
Evidence of Efficacy in Liver Injury Models
In a challenging anticoagulated liver injury model using warfarin-treated tissue, the sponge demonstrated notable performance improvements. It adhered strongly to the injured surface, significantly shortening bleeding time and reducing blood loss. Importantly, compared with conventional hemostatic agents, the sponge induced less inflammation and less additional tissue damage, while maintaining early-stage wound stabilization.
These findings highlight a dual advantage: reliable control of bleeding even in high-risk patients and a more favorable tissue response during initial healing. By leveraging the dECM to engage the body’s natural coagulation pathways, the sponge may minimize reliance on additional surgical interventions and promote faster recovery trajectories.
Clinical Relevance and Potential Impact
Uncontrolled surgical bleeding remains a leading cause of mortality in emergency and elective procedures. The POSTECH sponge offers several potential benefits: improved adherence to bleeding surfaces, rapid hemostasis, biodegradability without residual foreign material, and enhanced tissue recovery thanks to dECM exposure. If these results translate consistently to human use, surgeons could see fewer intraoperative complications, reduced need for secondary surgeries, and shorter hospital stays for patients with internal organ injuries.
Beyond liver or splenic injuries, the technology could extend to other bleeding-prone sites where secure yet temporary hemostatic support is needed. Its biocompatible design aims to minimize inflammatory responses, a common concern with some synthetic hemostats. The composite strategy represents a new class of bioabsorbable hemostats that marry strong tissue adhesion with natural regenerative cues.
Collaboration, Publication, and Funding
The research was led by Professor Hyung Joon Cha (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Professor Jinah Jang (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Convergence IT Engineering) at POSTECH, with graduate student Hyegyo Cha contributing to the work. The study, recently published online in Advanced Healthcare Materials, underscores a growing interest in bioinspired materials for surgical safety and improved patient outcomes. Funding and support came from the National Research Foundation of Korea (Ministry of Science and ICT) and the Alchemist Project (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy).
What Comes Next
Future research will likely focus on optimizing the sponge’s formulation for diverse surgical contexts, validating performance in larger animal models, and initiating phased clinical testing to confirm safety and efficacy in humans. If successful, this composite sponge could become a standard adjunct in operating rooms, helping clinicians control internal hemorrhage more rapidly and safely, while supporting faster patient recovery.
